Atlanta Thrashers' Goalie Pavelec Loses Consciousness During Season Opener

Atlanta Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec was awake and alert after being taken off the ice on a stretcher during the National Hockey League team’s season opener.

Pavelec, 23, lost consciousness and fell to the ice 2:25 into the first period of the team’s game against the Washington Capitals in Atlanta. Pavelec went down while the play was at the other end of Philips Arena. After play was stopped, Pavelec lay motionless on his back for about 15 minutes.

Following a long delay, medical personnel placed him on a backboard, lifted him onto a stretcher and wheeled him off the ice. He was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, the team said, and will be kept overnight for observation.

“He’s awake, alert and asking about the score of the game,” the team said in a statement.

Pavelec was replaced in the game by Chris Mason.

To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Buteau in Atlanta at mbuteau@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net